Every day in the US – more than 650,000 opioid prescriptions are dispensed.

Every day 78 people in the US die from an opioid-related overdose!

Every year, prescription opioid abuse has a health and social cost of $55 billion!

Popular opioids (prescription pain-relief medication) include: Hydrocodone (Vicodin), Oxycodone (OxyContin), and Methadone. They are used to treat anything from mild pain of coughing to moderate pain of dental work to severe back pain.

If you are in pain and thinking about trying potentially addictive treatments – such as opioids, please consider alternatives to pain medication. Aside from the risk of addiction and overuse – drugs that numb pain, especially pain caused by a musculoskeletal condition can hinder healing and lead to additional, if not permanent injury. When pain is temporarily eliminated, you allow your body to do something it really should not be doing. Additional concerns of opioids include the following possible side effects:

Depression

Fatigue

Insomnia

Dizziness

Nausea

Vomiting

Diminished sex drive

Reduction in strength

Increase in pain sensitivity

With this is mind, try something that has high patient satisfaction and does not carry the risks associated with opioids. Consider chiropractic care first! In fact, Doctors of Chiropractic are the highest rated healthcare practitioners for low-back pain treatment!

The best chiropractor treatment results in a properly aligned spine to help eliminate pain, which helps in the battle against substance abuse. By detecting and correcting spinal misalignments – subluxations, the body can heal itself… without drugs!

Chiropractors utilize a variety of techniques and therapies to improve poor posture and help eliminate pain. In addition to spinal manipulation – stretching and kneading around inflamed muscles, trigger point release (pressure at specific points), blocking, electric stimulation, ultrasound, ice therapy and heat therapy are offered.

Acupuncture for chronic pain!

In addition to chiropractic care, acupuncture is another option for drug free pain relief. It shows great promise in reducing or eliminating pain, as well as helping to break the addiction cycle. For thousands of years, acupuncture (needling technique) has been used for pain management.

There are numerous benefits associated with acupuncture – increases circulation and the “feel good” hormones, reduces inflammation and stress and helps to eliminate or control pain. Additionally, it helps to wean patients off opioids, control urges and symptoms associated with withdrawal. It’s safe, and for many people it works and can save lives!

If you or someone is in pain or struggling with opioid abuse, a multidisciplinary approach may be the best option. By correcting the cause of pain and focusing on alternatives to pain medication, better health can result. Chiropractic and acupuncture for chronic pain may be the answer!